Two public hearings last week by State Assembly committees took
up issues affecting the CSU. One hearing looked at diversity
among instructional faculty, and another examined the future of
the state’s Master Plan for Higher Education.

What are the differences? How do these words relate to us in the
CSU and in CFA?

By Sharon Elise
CFA Board of Directors, Council for Affirmative Action
Representative
Sociology, CSU San Marcos

Words matter. They are symbols of shared meaning and, for those
of us who serve in the public higher education system, the words
we use matter enormously. Words allow us to direct the work of
reconstructing the institution to make it accessible and
responsible to all our residents.

The Assembly Higher Education Committee of the California State
Legislature will hold a public hearing at San
Jose State tomorrow to explore the lack of diversity of the
faculty teaching in the CSU, the Community Colleges, and the UC.